SOME prisoners released early in efforts to alleviate overcrowding in the UK’s prisons have not been fitted with electronic tracking devices, despite this being a condition of their release. Several offenders granted early release on licence have reported not being equipped with an ankle tag, with one describing the situation as “a disaster waiting to happen.”
A probation officer has suggested that delays in fitting the devices may be due to a shortage of tags, while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has attributed the issue to a backlog of former prisoners. The MoJ has placed the blame on security contractor Serco, which manages the prison tagging system, for the delays. In response, Serco stated it is working to reduce the numbers waiting for tags.
Prisons Minister Lord Timpson is scheduled to have an urgent meeting with Serco to address the issue later this afternoon. The meeting follows the early release of more than 1,700 prisoners in England and Wales last week, a measure implemented by the government to tackle overcrowding in the prison system.
The Justice Secretary has defended the scheme, stating that it prevented the prison system from reaching maximum capacity and a potential “total breakdown of law and order.” However, the early release initiative has faced criticism over public safety concerns, particularly since not all victims were notified of their offender’s early release date.
Offenders serving sentences for violent offences of at least four years, sex offenders, and domestic abusers were not eligible for early release, according to the government. Many of those released were on licence, which in some cases requires them to wear an ankle tag to monitor their movements and ensure compliance with curfews and other restrictions.
The absence of electronic tags for some individuals has raised concerns about the risk of reoffending and the potential danger to the public. One offender released last week said: “They should have tagged me but they haven’t, and it means I can go where I choose. I don’t want to end up back inside so I’m sticking to the curfew, but I know people who aren’t doing that because they’ve not been tagged. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.” In this case, the offender is required to stay at home from 19:00 to 07:00.
Another offender expressed frustration over the delay, stating, “I have to stay indoors till I get fitted, which means I can’t leave and it’s doing my head in – but I don’t want to get recalled into jail, so I’d rather do that but it would be easier if I was tagged. It’s a disgrace.”
Three probation officers, who spoke to the BBC News on the condition of anonymity, have expressed concern over the situation. One officer believes the issue is due to a shortage of tags, stating, “We’re hearing the same story from several staff saying that people haven’t been tagged yet and it’s going to cause problems. Seems like people were released without the conditions on which they were released being properly ready, and that could potentially be dangerous.”
The tagging system, or Home Detention Curfew (HDC), allows certain offenders to be released early if they have a suitable address to return to. Those on HDC must follow rules about their movements and return home by a specified time, allowing authorities to monitor their compliance and deter reoffending.
Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones has indicated that about a third of those released early last week are expected to reoffend. The tagging system is operated by Electronic Monitoring Services (EMS), a division managed by Serco under a contract with the MoJ.
Recent data shows the weekly prison population in England and Wales from July to mid-September 2024, with prisons nearing their operational capacity. As of 6 September, the population was 88,521 against a capacity of 89,619. Following the early release of about 1,700 prisoners on 10 September, the population dropped to 86,333 in the week ending 13 September, with a slightly reduced capacity of 89,552.
An MoJ spokesperson commented, “Tagging is an important part of our strategy to keep victims safe and cut reoffending, and there are currently record numbers of offenders wearing tags. We are holding Serco to account to address delays in fitting some offenders with tags, and will apply financial penalties against the company if this is not resolved quickly. While this issue is ongoing, we have prioritised tagging domestic-abuse offenders to make sure their licence conditions, such as staying away from their victims, are strictly followed.”
In response, a Serco spokesperson stated, “Since we took over the electronic monitoring contract in May, we have been working hard to reduce the number of people waiting to have a tag fitted. We work closely with the MoJ and the probation service to fit tags swiftly and prioritise cases based on risk profiles. Where an individual is not at home when we call to fit a tag, the time taken can be longer. We prioritise making another visit so that people are tagged as soon as possible.”
The situation continues to evolve, with the government and Serco under pressure to address the backlog and ensure that public safety is not compromised.
